OREANDA-NEWS. May 21, 2012. Valentin Gapanovich, Senior Vice-President at Russian Railways, attended climate trials of the Lastochka (Desiro RUS) train being conducted by Siemens in the Austrian capital Vienna on 19 May 2012.

The trials are to ensure that the Lastochka electric train meets set technical specifications and safety standards and are being held at the Vienna-Arsenal test center, which can check and verify that the Lastochka performs perfectly across the entire range of its likely operating temperatures from -40°C to +40°C.

The equipment in the test chamber can simulate train speeds of up to 200 kph, as well as very cold conditions when ice and snow form on the locomotive’s components. The chamber can thus measure the performance of assembly units and components under conditions close to real operation. It can also simulate other important climatic extremes, such as solar radiation and humidity.

The climate chamber can also carry out tests to evaluate the effectiveness of the Lastochka’s climate and air conditioning systems, which ensure the right parameters for the microclimate both in summer and winter in the driver’s cab and the train’s salons and carriages.

All tests were performed using special methods, with different operating regimes and conditions created in the climate chamber and about 100 different sensors during the tests.

In addition to the microclimate parameters and the assessment of the heating and cooling systems, tests are carried out at low temperatures on other important systems such as the toilet facilities, current collecting devices and the window wipers. Also checked is the performance of the doors and movable stairs.